Page 109 of The Blood Crown

Even the floating candles went out one by one, as if politely excusing themselves, until only the flickering amber light from the roaring fire remained, gilding the sharp angle of Ven’s jaw, the black strands of his hair.

She clicked her tongue. “Abusing your power already?”

A slow, wicked smile curved his lips. “For you—” His grip tightened on her waist, sending a flood of heat through her body. “Always.”

“I’m sorry,” she murmured, “about earlier . . .”

“So am I,” he rasped. “It’s not easy—its not easy for me to think about you . . .” He didn’t finish the thought, but she knew what he meant. How he felt.

She hated the thought of him fighting . . . Not when they’d finally found some semblance of peace. Of safety.

But she didn’t want to consider what was next—not in this moment. Not with the way he felt beneath her.

“Does it ever get easier?” she whispered against his mouth, grinding her hips into his and drinking down the groan of pleasure that escaped him. “Will I ever stop craving you?”

His desire was hard and unrelenting even through the clothing that still separated them.

“Fucking Fate—I hope not,” he growled.

Ven tore open the shirt she wore, one of his, sending the buttons scattering to the floor with tiny protestingplinksas he palmed her breast. His fingers threaded through her hair as hisfangs traced the column of her throat. And she tilted her head back in invitation, goosebumps breaking out across her skin at the delicious sting that followed.

Desire blazed through her—both her own, and what transpired from Ven as he took her vein. She nearly came undone as he pulled away, licking at the small hurt along her neck, her breasts heavy and aching for his touch.

His eyes were nearly swallowed with black as he untied the laces at her pants, sliding them down her hips until she was bared to him. And she reached for his shirt, taking her time as she undid every button—seeing the torture she was putting him through with every ragged rise and fall of his chest. As if it took every ounce of his control to remain still while her fingers did their work.

She slid from his lap and something primal flashing behind his eyes as he reached out, grasping her with preternatural speed.

“Do you wish for me to stop?” he rasped, clarity returning to his gaze.

“Never,” she answered breathlessly.

Her fingers pulled the laces at his pants, his eyes half-lidded once more as she palmed the length of him. He gripped her waist, hauling her on top of him once more, nothing between them now except for their shared breath as her hips hovered over his.

His hands traced the new curves of muscle she’d put on since returning to Ravenstone, the added weight of the nourishing food and the relentless training.

“This—” he said, digging his fingertips into her thighs, “is how you were meant to be.” His eyes blazed with something akin to devotion. “Strong. Capable.Alive,” he murmured. “When I brought you here . . .” His words trailed off, but she already knew the version that he remembered. Wasting away, and notonly because of the illness that had hounded her before she’d gone into stasis—dwindling away to nothing in the life she’d had before. “I truly wondered if I was the monster you claimed,” he whispered. “It was to keep you safe, to see you well—but deep down I’m a selfish fucking prick,” his voice was ragged around the edges, “and I wanted to steal every chance to be near you.”

She gripped his face between her hands, her lips against his as she murmured, “And you let me return, even knowing what I was going back to—you let me go because it was the choiceImade.” She shook her head, regret thick in her voice. “Just as I chose you,” she added, fingers tangling in the thick, black strands of his hair. “As I would choose you across every lifetime.”

He bared his throat to her, the strong cords of muscle shifting where the black ink of his tattoos wound up his neck to meet the deep red of their blood oath.

This seemingly invincible male, feared across kingdoms—completely at her mercy.

He let out a low growl as her lips found his pulse, her teeth sinking into his smooth skin and the flavor of him filling her mouth. She was ravenous for what he offered, and she took it all.

Their joining was drawn out, both of them desperate for the small escape they offered each other.

But as dusk fell, they reluctantly pulled themselves from their cocoon, entering the great hall.

Dinner had long been underway, and at the front of the room sat their friends—their family.

Seth was seated at the end of the table, laughing at something Asher had said, both of the males grinning with such unrestrained joy that she hoped to etch the moment into her memory. Embra sat between Karro and Nira. Nira tiltingher head toward her claimed, affection glittering in her scarlet eyes. Karro wore his usual amiable expression as he listened to the conversations around him, but his eyes scanned the room distractedly.

Aurelia straightened the fresh shirt she’d tugged on, raking fingers through her hair, attempting to hide any evidence of what she and Ven had just done. But it wouldn’t have mattered anyway with the self-satisfied look on Ven’s face. His broad hand spanned the small of her back, gaze softening as it snagged on hers.

Karro elbowed Ven in the ribs as he pulled out an empty chair. And no sooner had she sat down, Nira slid a plate mounded with food towards her.

“I’m guessing you worked up an appetite.” The female gave her a wink as Embra snorted into her cup.

---